Schiano says it's football, not details about pay and perks, that's important

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerRutgers head football coach Greg Schiano answers questions from reporters at the SNY Big East Conference press conference at the SNY Studios in Manhattan yesterday.

The $2 million coach says he's focused

After two days of revelations detailing a series of secret deals that enhanced his contract, Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano said yesterday his only focus is on the 2008 football season.

Schiano, at a New York news conference announcing a new television home for the Scarlet Knights, would not discuss any of the terms of his $2 million contract now under increasing scrutiny.

"What's important to me is my family and my football team," he said. "Thank God both of those groups are doing well."

Meanwhile the university refused to release a document spelling out one of several undisclosed changes to Schiano's employment agreement -- allowing the coach to walk away from his contract without penalty if the $102 million Rutgers football stadium expansion project is not completed on time.

University president Richard L. McCormick, who approved the agreement with Schiano last year, outlined on Tuesday the terms of the deal that would release Schiano from $500,000 in penalties if he broke his contract, should the stadium project falter.

Schiano, in New York for the announcement of a television deal between the Big East Conference and cable sports channel SNY, said the disclosures about his contract with the state university have not been a distraction.

The disclosures about the stadium guarantee and a separate arrangement by the university to pay Schiano an additional $250,000 a year in compensation through a vendor came after The Star-Ledger began examining the cost of athletics at Rutgers University.

Neither change in his contract had ever been publicly disclosed.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) has called on the state comptroller's office and the state inspector general to investigate the hidden contract deals with Schiano.

Asked about any concerns he might have about the stadium project or the university's current financial situation, Schiano said he has no anxiety. "Collectively the university has a vision that I'm part of," he added.

The coach referred all contract-related questions to athletic director Robert Mulcahy, who was standing next to him.

"Our athletic director has addressed that and he probably will continue to address that. My focus really is the 2008 season," said Schiano, adding that he was a believer in the "chain of command" and that he, like the rest of the university's coaches, agrees with the policy that only Mulcahy can discuss contract and compensation details.

Mulcahy declined to speak with reporters.

McCormick, in a telephone interview Tuesday from San Francisco, said he has asked his staff to determine exactly how the side-letter agreements were reached and whether that process ought to be changed.

"There's no reason to think anything was done wrong," McCormick said. "But this is an opportunity to say can we do better here."

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) said he "appreciates" the university's decision to open the compensation process to public scrutiny, but stressed Schiano is worth every penny Rutgers is paying him.

"What he's done to Rutgers University has been tremendous," Codey said. "The number of applicants is way up. The quality of students has always been good, but it's better. It's been great."

Codey described Schiano's salary as a bargain.

"When you compare what he's done to other coaches, he could be making millions some other place. I'm happy and I'm thrilled that he stayed," Codey said. "I think that Bob Mulcahy needs a lot of credit for selecting someone who's done so much for Rutgers University, making it a great brand name in both academics and athletics."

Gov. Jon Corzine, on a trade mission to Israel, also said Schiano has done an outstanding job, but added that he expects public business to be done in the open.

"I have a preference for full disclosure," he said.

Josh Margolin may be reached at jmargolin@starledger.com or (609) 989-0267; Ted Sherman at tsherman@starledger.com or (973) 392-4278.

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerRutgers head football coach Greg Schiano, left, answers questions from reporters as Robert E. Mulcahy III, the director of athletics at Rutgers, listens yesterday at the SNY Big East Conference press conference in Manhattan.